Morning journal and courier., 1887-02-25
COMMUNICATIONS.

More From a fried WorkIngman.
70 the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
In the last letter, Mr.. Editor, my thoughts
were so much occupied with the disagreeable
recollection of how I was roped into the union
by the walking delegate, and of how vexed
was at his ''cheek" in venturing to give Or
ders to my boss, that I forgot several mat
ters that were heavy on my mind. While
was being half coaxed, half driven into the
union in order that the above named walking
delegate might pocket his percentage plum
der, quantity of splendid reasons we're given
me for joining it. Wages were to be raised,
winter tramp labor was to be entirely done
away with and variety of pleasant things
were promised that may yet turn up. Per-
haps they now on the way here, but they
haven't arrived yet.
1t is likely that the union may be of use to
poor workmen who have never rightly served
their time nor learned their trade, but who
want to be paid exactly as much and the very
same wages as those who have served out
full time" both as apprentices and as elm
proveIs."
That cannot be right. When new man
works alongside of me it doesn't take many
squints to judge his work, and after a very
little while any good mechanic rate him
correctly. Much too often the new hand,
who ought of course to be a workman, is
buugler who loses time and works badly. But
that does not prevent him from wanting and.
what is more, from getting the very same
pay that do, while have worked my full
three years 'stime" and two years as s'im
proven" On pay day L cannot help thinking
of this and feeling aggrieved. I cannot make
it out just and fair. That is what the union
does for him-the poor workman Before l
Joined the union [ was getting % cents a day
more wages than now and had frequent "ex-
ira time" besides, but that bungler chap now
gets dollar and a half day more than he
ever did, so that, of course, he likes it and l
hear him 'blow" great deal about our
union. lie l5 right enough, but how is it
about myself: How about the quality of the
work that goes out of the shop2 How does
his boss like it! Higher cost, poorer work!
The disturbed state OF business matters
cannot last; it is rapidly leading us all some
whore; its present nixedup condition can
not be permanent. If | know anything
about the American character one thing is
certain-we have got to stop giving orders to
the boss and being too sassy with "must"
this and ''rnust' that The crisis will be
here on time, and when it does come the
"walking delegate Will actually be forced to
work while the man with the most comforta-
BILE bank account will have the least trouble
l am satisfied that thus it will always and
surely be to the end of time. The condition
of individuals may change SO that the work
ingmen of the present may be the capi
talists of the future, but the general forma
ton of society must remain very much as it
now is. This is the reason why l am con
vince3 that it is of no use trying to work
a miracle or to dodge the inevitable. For
one [ tired of being and appearing to be
the shallow witted tool of the walking del
egate" or of helping to fatten him on my
children's food WoRKINGMAN.